News

The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro is expected to match the 12.9-inch model in functionality, including support for the Apple Pencil and a smaller version of the Smart Keyboard, but 9to5Mac reports the smaller device could sport improved cameras as well. Sources said internal prototypes of the 9.7-inch model appear to include a 12 megapixel rear camera — a big upgrade over the 8 megapixel camera that shipped with the first iPad Pro last November. The improved camera would make sense given the new iPad’s smaller size. As we noted in our review, beefing up the camera on a 12.9-inch device wouldn’t really make much sense given how difficult it is to use it for photography. The new iPad is also expected to include a FaceTime HD camera above the front display and be able to record 4K video like the iPhone 6s, both upgrades over the first iPad Pro.

Apple may be planning to limit the functionality of the Apple Pencil in iOS 9.3, according to a new report from MacRumors. Several iPad Pro users running the iOS 9.3 beta have noticed that, unlike in the current iOS 9.2 release, the Apple Pencil can no longer be used like a finger to navigate the iPad UI in the beta version. In iOS 9.2, the Apple Pencil can be used to tap on buttons, select text, scroll, access menus, and more, while iOS 9.3 betas limit the Pencil’s functionality to drawing and writing functions within apps. While many beta testers who have experienced this problem have assumed the omission may be a bug, it has now persisted into the fourth beta of iOS 9.3, with no mention of the limitations in the iOS developer release notes either. Further, Relay.fm co-founder Myke Hurley disclosed in a recent podcast that he had heard from insiders at Apple that this may in fact be an intentional design decision by Apple.

Accessory manufacturer Zagg has announced that it has signed a merger agreement to acquire iPhone battery case maker Mophie for $100 million plus additional adjusted earnings over $100m across a 12-month earn-out period. In a press release on Zagg’s website, the company notes that the combination of the two companies will create a market share leader in the battery case, external battery, screen protection, and tablet keyboard accessory categories, and that the combined 2015 net sales of the two companies were about $470 million. The merger will also create expanded distribution opportunities for both companies, and allow strengthening and consolidation of engineering and manufacturing resources in China. The merger is expected to close during the first quarter of 2016, subject to the usual regulatory approvals.

Apple has issued a voluntary recall covering some of its AC wall plug adapters and world travel kits. The recall affects AC wall plug adapters designed for use in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Continental Europe, New Zealand and South Korea, noting that in very rare cases, the affected two-prong adapters may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched. The adapters shipped with Mac and some iOS devices between 2003 and 2015 and were also included in the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit. The release notes that Apple is aware of 12 incidents worldwide, and specifies that the issue does not affect any other Apple AC wall plug adapters designed for use in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, United Kingdom, or the United States, nor does it affect any Apple USB power adapters. Customers should stop using affected plug adapters immediately and visit www.apple.com/support/ac-wallplug-adapter for information about how to exchange their affected adapters for new, redesigned adapters.

As the International CES 2016 begins to wind down, we wanted to point out that there won’t be any CES Best of Show Awards given out by iLounge this year. Our on-site staff was limited this year, and we didn’t think it was fair to our readers — or to these companies — for other members of our staff to participate in making such judgments without seeing the products in person. Visit our CES page for the full index of reports from this week, and from past Consumer Electronics Shows. We’ll be back next week with more of our typical content.

CableJive has introduced two new add-ons for its HeroDock for the iPhone — a Landscape Dock that can hold an iPad mini, and the other to dock an Apple Watch. As seen above, the final iPad mini dock will require a Lightning connector in another position for it to work properly. The new attachments are expected to arrive in Q3; pricing has not been announced.

Just Mobile has introduced a new minimalist dock, the HoverDock, in both iPhone and Apple Watch versions. The HoverDock for iPhone ($35) is a low-profile charging stand encased in a unibody aluminum disc that allows you to pass through your Lightning cable and stand your iPhone upright, and supports most cases.

HoverDock for Apple Watch ($35) follows the same unibody aluminum design as the iPhone version, allowing you to pass through the standard Apple Watch Magnetic Charging cable and keep your Apple Watch propped up for Nightstand Mode.

Edifier has introduced several new speakers at this year’s CES. The MA5 ($200) desktop audio system is Wi-Fi enabled and provides support for AirPlay and DLNA. It can stream music from app-based online music sources such as Pandora and Spotify. It also features a cloud-based speech recognition system for online music search and can act as a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi hotspot. MA5 should be released in Q2 2016.

The MP700 ($230) portable speaker comes in two versions, with a Bluetooth 4.0 model that features an NFC tag for quick connection with compatible devices, and an Wi-Fi model which features AirPlay and DLNA connectivity, and the same app-based online music source management and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi hotspot features as the MA5. Additionally, the MA215 ($300) is a desktop Wi-Fi speaker set for release in the third quarter of 2016.

Braven has announced several new speakers at this year’s CES, expanding its active and rugged speaker lineup with new options across the board. The new Braven 105 ($60) and Braven 405 ($100) wireless speakers add to the company’s Active Series, and the new BRV-XXL looks like an absolute beast of a speaker. Braven’s parent company, Incipio, also introduced a few new interesting items at the show.

Braven’s massive new BRV-XXL ($350) is designed to bring earth-crushing HD sound to any indoor or outdoor event. It features a tank-like design, titanic surround sound, and more, along with a 14-hour playtime, and a built-in 15600 mAh battery that can charge up iPhones and iPads. It’s built from aircraft grade aluminum and ABS, meaning it can withstand accidental falls, sand, dirt, dust, and rain (it’s IPX5 waterproof rated). NFC provides one-touch connectivity for compatible devices and it includes on-board controls for adjusting bass, treble, volume, and skipping tracks, and a 3.5mm microphone input allows you to use it as a PA system as well. If that weren’t enough, it even sports a built-in bottle opener on the carrying strap.

PhotoFast has announced MemoriesCable 1M, a new version of the popular MemoriesCable that provides users with even more reach. MemoriesCable is an MFi-certified Lightning cable for charging an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that also includes up to 128GB of built-in flash memory storage directly in the connector. Supported by PhotoFast’s i-FlashDrive ONE app (the same app used with the i-FlashDrive MAX), users can store and backup data from various cloud-based services as well as popular social media accounts. MemoriesCable 1M is expected to start shipping at the end of January.

Withings has announced Thermo ($100), a new iOS-connected Wi-Fi thermometer. Using revolutionary HotSpotSensor technology, Thermo gives you precise results with a simple one-touch gesture, syncing your temperature readings via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth with the companion Thermo iOS app. Sixteen infrared sensors and the patented HotSpot sensor provide a highly-accurate temperature reading against the temple in under two seconds without requiring contact with any bodily fluids, while the app lets you store and track temperature readings, get reminders, and input related symptoms or medications right on your iPhone. Temperatures and related information are stored in a Thermo diary that can be easily shared with your doctor at any time. When taking readings, the Thermo unit will also provide color-coded temperature feedback based on the user’s age profile to help you easily understand the reading.

Building on its Welcome Smart Home Camera, Netatmo has debuted Presence, a new outdoor security camera designed to automatically detect the presence of people, cars, and animals. Using a new “Smart-Sight” feature, Presence analyzes in real-time if somebody is loitering around the outside of your house, or if a car enters the driveway or a pet is in the yard; the camera is able to understand what it sees and notify the user appropriately if something is detected in the monitored area. Infrared night vision provides recording at night, and an integrated smart floodlight can be activated to capture bright color videos even in the dark, to scare off unwanted visitors, or light up the way. As with the company’s Welcome Smart Home Camera, Presence provides entirely customizable settings for notifications and activity recording, and stores videos locally on an internal micro SD card for privacy. In addition, users can establish smart zones to determine specific areas to monitor activity within, and optionally transfer recorded footage to a personal FTP server. Videos are captured in full 1080p HD with a 100-degree field of view and a detection range of 20 meters. Presence is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2016. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Harman has announced a collection of new speakers, earphones, a new in-dash system at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, including updates to its popular JBL Clip and JBL Charge speakers, a new headphone partnership with Under Armour, and a new top-of-the-line speaker in its Quincy Jones series.

The company has released two new versions of its popular portable speakers. The new JBL Clip 2 ($60) is an ultra-compact speaker designed to attach anywhere with a new built-in smart carabineer. It also features a ruggedized, IPX7 waterproof design and fabric casing, eight hours of playtime from the built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery, speakerphone support with noise and echo cancellation, and an integrated 3.5mm audio cable for those who need or prefer a wired connection. It’s expected to be available this spring.

The JBL Charge 3 ($150) has been updated with an IPX7 waterproof design, and is available in five colors. You can wirelessly connect up to three smartphones or tablets to the speaker at once to take turns playing audio, and the 6000 mAh power bank gives you up to 15 hours of playtime and can charge an iPhone, iPad, or other USB powered device on the go. Dual external passive radiators provide powerful bass, a built-in speakerphone features noise and echo cancellation, and JBL Connect support lets users link multiple JBL Connect-enabled speakers together.

iHome has unveiled a collection of several new products at this year’s CES, including an updated version of its original HomeKit-enabled SmartPlug, a new model building on its Kineta speaker lineup, and several new speakers and clock radios.

The new iHome Control iSP8 SmartPlug ($50), expands on the company’s original HomeKit-enabled plug, adding power consumption monitoring capabilities and compatibility with Android, Nest, Wink, and more in addition to the iOS HomeKit support. A remote control is also included in the package to allow the plug to be used without a smartphone or tablet.

The new Kineta K5 ($70) builds on the new K-Cell battery equipped speakers iHome debuted last year with a new design, Bluetooth-enabled wireless FM clock radio, and built-in speakerphone. It’s equipped with Reson8 speakers and includes the same K-Cell battery technology as the original models — a removable battery pack that can be popped out to recharge mobile devices on the go.

Just before this year’s CES officially kicks off, IK Multimedia has unveiled iRig BlueTurn ($70), a new compact Bluetooth-based page turner for musicians, designed to allow hands-free navigation of set lists, scores, lyric sheets and more on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Mac. BlueTurn is a small foot controller with two backlit soft-touch buttons, similar in design to the company’s earlier iRig BlueBoard MIDI controller. iRig BlueTurn can be paired with IK’s own iKlip Stage setlist management app as well as many other popular page-turning and document viewing apps. iRig BlueTurn is expected to be available in February 2016.

Incipio has announced a collection of new ClamCase iPad keyboard cases for the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 4. The new cases incorporate the signature, patented 360-degree hinge design from the previous models, while adding more productivity-enhancing features such as backlit keyboards and backup battery power. The ClamCase Pro for iPad mini 4 ($130), expected in Q1 of 2016, features a Lithium-ion battery and Bluetooth 3.0 chip for months of keyboard use on a single charge, and one-touch pairing to automatically sync the keyboard case to the iPad mini 4. It will be available in White/Silver and Smoke Gray. ClamCase+ for iPad Pro ($170) and ClamCase+ for iPad Air 2 ($150) will be available in Q2 of 2016 in Gray, Gold, and Silver. It will include a backlit keyboard with adjustable brightness, built-in sensors to activate the wake and sleep functions, and an integrated Apple Pencil slot.

While CES 2016 doesn’t actually start until Wednesday, companies are already announcing new products from the show. Griffin has introduced a number of new products, including Travel Power Bank ($70) for Apple Watch. Travel Power Bank is a portable 800 mAh battery with a built-in Apple Watch charger. Griffin claims Travel Power Bank can deliver four full charges to an Apple Watch before it needs recharged, which makes it an ideal accessory for a trip. It even comes with a keyring to attach to a set of keys or a hook. It should be available in the second quarter of 2016. Also for Apple Watch, Griffin has unveiled Uptown Leather Band ($60) and Trainer Watch Band ($40), a silicone band. Both of those are set for a Q3 2016 release.

Apple is preparing to release new accessibility-related accessories early next year, Macotakara reports. Such accessories may be released sometime from January to March 2016. It’s unclear what these accessories may be at this point, but Apple has repeatedly shown a commitment to increasing accessibility options for the disabled and impaired within its products, and releasing dedicated accessories for these users seems like a natural next step. Conceivably, such products could be introduced quietly during the next few months, or unveiled at a spring event with other new products.

On the heels of yesterday’s news that Hue was set to begin blocking uncertified third-party bulbs from the Hue ecosystem due to “interoperability” issues, the company has now rapidly reversed course as a result of customer feedback. Philips has revised the notice on its developer blog, noting that while the decision was “made in good faith” to ensure an optimal customer experience, the company underestimated the impact that it would have on customers, and that in view of this it has decided to reverse the software upgrade so that lights from other brands will “continue to work as they did before” with the Hue system. The post notes that the company is working on the reversal of the upgrade and will soon confirm when this will be available to affected customers.

Philips is still encouraging third-party accessory makers to join the Friends of Hue partnership program so that their devices can be tested and certified to work seamlessly with Hue, and notes that customers using uncertified lights will likely still experience the same incompatibility issues that they have in the past, although Philips will no longer stand in the way of customers using other ZigBee LL capable accessories.

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced its new registration program for owners of “small unmanned aircraft,” known to most as drones. The program will require owners to register all drones weighing between 0.55 and 55 pounds, including payloads such as on-board cameras. A short list of examples has been compiled by the FAA — for instance, Parrot’s Bebop Drone must be registered under the new program. The normal registration fee is $5, but that will be waived for owners who register within the first 30 days (Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan. 20, 2016).

Apple has quietly replaced its old Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader with an improved model that supports USB 3.0 transfer speeds now possible with the iPad Pro. The size, shape and $30 price of the accessory remain unchanged, and older iPads will still top out at USB 2.0 transfer speeds, making the new card reader most useful to iPad Pro owners. As before, inserting the reader into an iPad or iPhone with an SD card inside automatically opens the Photos app and organizes your pictures. [via iDownloadBlog]